Automatic flush-valve.



A. J. DONNELLON.

AUTOMATIC FLUSH VALVE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 1914.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

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I: (T I A. J. DONNELLON.

AUTOMATIC FLUSH VALVE.

APPLICATION FlLED OCT. 30, m4.

1,172,957. Patented Feb. 22,1916.

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ANDREW J. DONNELLON, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC FLUSH-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1%916.

Application filed October 30, 1914. Serial No. 869,445.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ANDREW J. DoNNnL- LON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Flush-Valves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in automatic flush valves, and has for its principal object to provide a valve which may be used without the usual flush tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will flush directly from the main water supply and which will automatically return to its normal position.

A further and more specific object of the device is to provide a novel means for regulating the length of flush at the will of the user.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts which will be fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flush valve constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a horizontal, sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a horizontal, sectional view on line H of Fig. 1., Fig. 5 is a reduced view in elevation of a valve constructed in accordance with this invention, and Fig. 6 is a detail. perspective view of the operating valve. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the controlling valve.

Referring now to the drawings by characters of reference, the numeral 1 designates the valve casing which is provided at its upper end with the enlarged bore 2. This bore extends downwardly for substantially two-thirds of the length of the valve and the bottom-wall thereof forms the shoulder 3 having formed therein the central bore 4'. The endof the aperture 4: opposite the one which communicates with the bore 2, communicates with the transverse bore 5 which is formed opposite with the aperture 6 which communicates with the internally screw threaded bore 7 of the reduced end 8 of the valve casing. A longitudinally extending passage 9 communicates with the bore 5 at its lower end and the bore 2 at its upper end as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. Extending laterally from the casing 1 at a point substantially one-third the distance from the upper end thereof, is a threaded boss 10 having formed therein the axial bore 11 which bore communicates with the bore 2 as clearly shown in the drawings. Formed on the interior of the casing 1 at a point immediately below the point where the bore 11 joins the bore 2 is an inwardly extending annular flange 12 provided with suitable internal screw threads, the use of which will appear as the description proceeds. A suitable aperture 54: is arranged to establish communication between the passage 9 and the bore 2 at a point slightly above the flange 12 hereinbefore referred to.

A suitable cap designated by the numeral 14 having the threaded downwardly extending flange 15 formed thereon, is arranged to be screwed upon the upper end of the casing 1 to form a cover therefor.

A suitable valve seat designated generally by the numeral 16 is provided and this valve seat comprises the circular body 17 having formed thereon the external screw threads 18 which are arranged to cooperate with the threads on the annular flange 12 in holding the body 17 in place. This body is formed with a centrally located aperture 19 which is surrounded by a plurality of apertures 20 arranged in annular formation through which the water, when the valve is flushing, passes. Cooperating with this valve seat 16 is the valve designated generallv by the numeral 21 which comprises the disk 22 having the central stem 23 formedthereon. This disk is provided with the annular groove 24 which forms the annular flange 9-5, which flange is arranged to engage the flange 26 extending annular-1y around the valve seat 16 as clearly shown, and it will thus be seen that a particularly simple and ellicient valve seat is provided. The upper end of the stem 23 hereinbefore referred to, is screw threaded as at 27 and these threads are arranged to receive the nut 28, which cooperates with the annular. shoulder 29 in holding the piston, which wlill be more fully hereinafter described, in p ace.

The piston hereinbefore referred to, is

28, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. A suitable" coil spring surrounds the stem 23 and the lower end of said coil spring bears against the valve seat 16, while the upper end bears against the under side of the shoulder 29, and it will thus be seen that the valve 21 will be normally held yieldably closechand thereby cut off the flow of water through the bore 11 of the boss 10.

Rotatable within the transverse bore 5 is the valve designated generally by the numeral 36, which comprises the cylindrical body 37 having formed therein the apertures 38, which apertures are rectangular in plan and arranged at diametrically opposite points. The body 37 is hollow and provided withthe central shaft 39, one end of which terminates in the cone-shaped projection 40 which is arranged to seat in the cone-shaped recess 41 formed in the end wall of the transverse bore 5. The body 37 is of sufficient diameter to fit within the transverse bore 5. The shaft 39 hereinbefore referred to, is extended beyond the side wall of the valve opposite the end on which the cone shaped projection 40 is formed, and this eX- tension is formed with the enlargement 42, which forms a cylindrical drum around which the coil spring 43 is wound. One end of this coil spring is secured to the drum 42, while the opposite end is secured to the plug which will be more fully hereinafter described, and this spring is arranged to return the valve to its normal closed position after the same has been operated.

The plug hereinbefore referred to is arranged to form a closure for the open end of the bore 5, and this plug comprises the body 4-4, which is externally screw threaded and arranged to cotiperate with the internally screw threaded flange 45 formed on the casing 1 and surrounding the bore 5. This plug 44 is provided with the externally threaded extension 46 on which the cap 47 is arranged to be threaded. This cap 47 is arranged to hold the packing material 48 within the recess 49 which communicates with the bore 50, through which the shaft 39 extends, and it will thus be seen that a water-tight joint is thus formed to prevent the valve from leaking. i

Surrounding the outer end of the shaft 39 is the sleeve 51 which is arranged to be removably secured thereon, and this sleeve is provided with the laterally extending handle 52, by which the valve is cont'rolled." In order that the length of flush may be controlled automatically, the valve is pro vided with an automatically operating con' trolling valve which is secured within the boss 53 formed on the casing 1 at a point where'the valve may cooperate with the passage 9 to enable the pressure to be maintained in the upper chamber above the piston 31 for a predetermined length of time. This valve will be described in detail hereinafter. v. V v

The valve above mentioned is arranged to be threaded into the aperture 54 formedin the boss 53 and this valve comprises the tubular outer casing 55 which is provided with the exterior screw threads 56. This casing is provided at one end with the enlarged sexagonal head 57 designed to permit the device to be easily placed in position. A suitable internally screw threaded bore 58 is formed in the'cylindrical body 55 and extends substantially half the distance therehereinbefore referred to. A suitable axial of. A transverse bore 59 is formed in the body and communicates with the bore 58 bore 60 is formed in the opposite end of the cylindrical body and is separatedfrom the bore 58 by means of the wall 61 which is formed with the valve seat 62 and thecentral aperture 63 which establishes communication between the bore 58 and the bore 60. A suitable threaded plug 64 is arranged to enter the outer end of the bore 60 and this plug is provided with a central aperture 65 which establishes communication between the bore 60 and the interior of the upper chamber of the valve 1. A suitablescrew 66 is arranged tobe threaded in the bore 58 and carries at its end the reduced cylindrical;

boss 67 which is arranged to engage the ball 68 to adjust the same toward the seat 62. A suitable plunger rod 69 having formed integral therewith the shoulder 70 is slidable longitudinally in the bore 60 and a suitable coil spring 71 surrounds said rod and abuts the plug 64 and flange 70 so that the plunger 69 engages the ball andholds the same normally away from the valve seat 62. In order that the screw maybe held in its adjusted position there is provided thenut 7 2 which jams the threads of the screw 66 and prevents the same from being accidentally removed.

In position this device is threaded into the aperture 54 and turned in such position that the aperture 59 will communicatewith' the passage 9 which will permit the inflow 111g water through the passage to enter the chamber formed between the screw 66 and V thewall 61 and tend to seat the valve 68 against the valve 62 thereby closing the passage 63. Thus the pressure will be generated on the upper side of the piston and'open the valve 21 thereby permitting the flow of water to enter the'pipe 11 and flush the bowl. During the flushing process it will be evident that the pressure of member-onthe sideof the ball supplemented by spring pressure will unseat the same and hold the valve in. adjusted positionthereby permitting the pressure in the chamber above the piston to be released. 7 i I It will be apparent from the foregoing that in use the same is connected to the water supply by threading the reduced end thereof on the supply pipe. The boss 10 is then connected to the hopper. The water is then permitted to flow directly through the valve from the main and into the chamber formed between the valve 21 and the wall 3, thus maintaining a pressure within said chamber. Upon operating the handle 52 and r0- tatingthe valve 36 it will be evident that the aperture 53 will be brought into alinement with the aperture 6 and the aperture 4: will be closed, thereby opening the passage 9 and permitting the water to flow through the aperture 6, aperture 53 and into the passage, thus into the upper chamber formed between the piston 31 and the cap 14. The

pressure therein will be exerted downwardly against the piston and thus force the valve 21 from its seat 16, and upon releasing the lever 52 the valve 36 will return to its normal position illustrated in Fig. 1, and thereby close the passage 9 and open the passage 4 between the; bore 5 and lower chamber, which will permit the inrush of water to pass directly therethrough and through the apertures 20 into the chamber formed between the valve seat 16 and piston 31, and thence through the bore 11 to the hopper. The water within the upper chamber will then gradually flow through the aperture 13 thereby permitting the spring 35 to force the piston upwardly and gradually seat the valve 21 and cut off the flush. Due to the fact that the flow of water out of the aperture 65 may be adjusted, it will be evident that the length of time for seating the valve 21 may be regulated so that a long or relatively short flush may be obtained at the desire of the user.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that such changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as will fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

. 1. A flush valve including a cylindrical casing having therein an axial bore and a transverse bore normally in communication with each other, an inlet communicating with said transverse bore, a valve within the transverse bore and controlling the flow of liquid therethrough, a valve seat intermediate the upper and lower ends of the axial bore, a valve cooperating with the valve seat to close the opening through the bore, a piston in the outer end of the bore arranged to control the operation of the valve, the casing being provided with an outlet opening communicating with said axial bore at a point slightly beyondv the valve seat, a bypass, one end of the by-pass opening into the transverse bore, and the other end thereof opening into the axial bore at a point be yond the piston, the valve in the transverse bore normally closing the by-pass opening and arranged to close the opening into the axial bore when moved to uncover the bypass opening so that pressure of water through the by-pass and against the outer side of the piston will force the valve from its seat.

2. A flush valve including a casing having an axial bore extending thereinto for substantially two-thirds of its length, the remaining third being provided with a transverse bore, the bores being in communication, the transverse bore being provided with an inlet opening, the axial bore being provided with an outlet opening, a valve seat in the axial bore at a point in advance of the outlet opening, a valve cooperating with the valve seat to close the passage therethrough, a piston controlling the opening movement of the valve, a spring to normally hold the valve closed, the casing being provided with a by-pass, one end of the by-pass opening into the transverse bore, the other end of the bypass opening into the outer end of the axial bore and arranged to admit liquid to the outer side of the piston, and a valve within the transverse bore to control the flow of liquid into the by-pass or axial bore, said valve being manually controlled and arranged to automatically return to its normal position.

3. A flush valve including a casing having an axial bore formed therein, said bore extending for substantially twothirds of the length thereof, the lower end of the casing being provided with a transverse bore, the axial and transverse bores being in communication, a valve seat intermediate the ends of the axial bore, the casing being provided with an outlet opening communicating with the axial bore at a point slightly above the valve seat, a valve cooperating with the valve seat to close the opening through the longitudinal bore, a piston operatively connected with the valve intermediate the valve seat and the upper end of the bore, the casing being provided with a by-pass, the lower end of the by-pass communicating with the transverse bore, the upper end of the bypass communicating with the longitudinal bore at its upper extremity and arranged to direct water pressure against the upper surface of the piston to force the same downwardly and thereby open the valve, a spring to normally hold the valve closed, the bypass being provided with a restricted outlet opening at a point slightly above the valve seat, an automatic Valve controlling the flow In testimony whereof I atfix my signature of liquid therethrough to pe f lmit the valve in presence of two Witnesses. to be reseate under the in uence of the spring, and a controlling Valve Within the 1 ANDREW N N' 5 transverse bore to direct the flow of liquid Witnesses:-

into the longitudinal bore or by-pass and JAMES CLIFFORD BURNS, thereby control the operation of the Valve. CLARENCE J. Fox.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

